Dresden 2011 – scientific programme

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A: Fachverband Atomphysik

A 15: Ultra-cold atoms, ions and BEC III (with Q)

A 15.1: Invited Talk

Wednesday, March 16, 2011, 10:30–11:00, BAR 106

Ultracold chemistry and dipolar collisions in a quantum gas of polar molecules — •Silke Ospelkaus^1,2, Amodsen Chotia², Marcio de Miranda², Brian Neyenhuis², Kang-Kuen Ni², Dajun Wang², Jun Ye², and Deborah Jin² — ¹Institut fuer Quantenoptik und QUEST, Universitaet Hannover — ²JILA, NIST and University of Colorado, Boulder, CO, USA

Ultracold polar molecular quantum gases promise to open new research directions ranging from the study of ultra-cold chemistry, precision measurements to novel quantum phase transitions. Based on the preparation of high-phase space density gases of polar KRb molecules [1,2,3], I will discuss the control of dipolar collisions and chemical reactions of polar molecules in a regime where quantum statistics, single scattering partial waves, and quantum threshold laws play a dominant role [4]. In particular, I will point out the crucial role of electric dipole-dipole interactions [5] and external confinement [6] in determining the chemical reaction rate. Finally, I will discuss prospects of reaching quantum degeneracy in bi-alkali samples of polar molecules and prospects for these systems as novel dipolar quantum many-body systems. [1] K. K. Ni, S. Ospelkaus, M. H. G. de Miranda, et al., Science 322, 231 (2008). [2] S. Ospelkaus, K. K. Ni, M. H. G. de Miranda, et al., Faraday Discussions 142, 351 (2009). [3] S. Ospelkaus, K. K. Ni, G. Quemener, et al., Phys. Rev. Lett. 104, 030402 (2010). [4] S. Ospelkaus, K. K. Ni, D. Wang, et al., Science 327, 853 (2010). [5] K. K. Ni, S. Ospelkaus, D. Wang, et al., Nature 464, 1324 (2010). [6] M. H. G. de Miranda, A. Chotia, B. Neyenhuis et al, arXiv: 1010.3731 (2010).